ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that LaMarcus Aldridge is not expected to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers in free agency. The team's Wednesday trade of forward Nicholas Batum was a sign, according to ESPN, that Portland does not believe they can retain their All-Star forward.
"He's gone," a source close to Aldridge disclosed to Marc Stein. "There's a 99.9 percent chance that he's out of Portland."
Aldridge apparently does not believe Portland is capable of attracting big name free agents to improve the roster and even feels underappreciated by the team that drafted him in 2006. He's also reportedly interested in living in a new city.
Aldridge is expected to meet with the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks in free agency. The Lakers appear firmly committed to wooing Aldridge on the open market. Sources believe the team has even moved past the Mavericks on Aldridge's wish list, even though he was a high school standout in Dallas.
L.A. is hoping to sign Aldridge to a max deal and pry All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins loose from the Sacramento Kings. Pairing them together would give L.A. arguably the top front court in the NBA. But further moves have to be made to keep Aldridge's interest.
"The Lakers' and Knicks' hopes of landing Aldridge likely will depend on whom they select in Thursday's draft, trade for or sign in free agency. Aldridge lives near Los Angeles in the offseason and has been there this week, sources told Broussard."
The Lakers are not nearly alone in their pursuit of the sweet shooting big man. The Spurs are rumored to be Aldridge's No. 1 choice.
"He has tons of respect for coach [Gregg] Popovich," a source told Broussard. "And he thinks highly of their organization and front office."
The financials, however, may be a bit tricky. The Spurs still have to re-sign Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili while also opening up enough cap room to start Aldridge at $18.8 million in a max deal.
